What shape will the future governance framework of European climate and energy policy take? The proposal submitted by the European Commission at the beginning of this year raises more questions than it answers in this regard. Dr. Camilla Bausch and Christine Lucha of the Ecologic Institute invited experts to a workshop to discuss the meaning of the commission's suggestions with a particular view toward electricity infrastructure. All presentation slides are available for download.

The Ecologic Institute continues to be actively involved in the debate on the ongoing negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and its environmental impact. On 23 April 2014, Max Grünig, Senior Fellow at the Ecologic Institute, participated as a panelist in a stakeholder forum on TTIP in Washington D.C. The presentation slides are available for download.

A policy brief written by Katharina Umpfenbach and colleagues for DG Environment summarises the most relevant scientific insights and analyses the implications for policy making. It highlights novel policy ideas for triggering changes in consumer behaviour. The policy brief is available for download.

D5.2-1 Report on Knowledge Presentation Strategy – Review of Knowledge Sharing Websites. Ecologic Institute, Berlin. 2014

During the 11th European IFSA Symposium Dr. Ana Frelih-Larsen, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, outlined the existing mechanisms for soil protection in general and soil organic matter (soil carbon) specifically. She explained the requirements for better policies to protect soil organic matters. Sandra Naumann chaired the session. The presentation slides are available for download.

On 1 and 2 April 2014, Christiane Gerstetter, Senior Fellow on the Ecologic Institute's legal team, gave two presentations in Brussels on investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). She concluded that including ISDS in TTIP would entail incalculable risks for environmental regulation that are not counter-balanced by benefits. She therefore recommended not to include ISDS provisions in TTIP. The presentations are available for download.

How can energy cooperatives contribute to energy transition in rural areas? In this study, Timo Kaphengst and Eike Velten examine the role of energy cooperatives for Sustainable Development, analyzing a case study in Northern Bavaria. The report is available for download.

Ecologic Institute, IEEP, Bio Intelligence Services, PSI and IVL (2013). What creates a successful resource efficiency policy? DYNAMIX Policy Brief No. 1. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

Frelih-Larsen, Ana; Sandra Naumann and Elizabeth Dooley 2013: Soil Management for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Framing and Integrating the Issue in the Evolving Policy Environment. 11th European IFSA Symposium – Farming Systems Facing Global Challenges: Capacities and Strategies. Heike Schobert et al. Berlin: IFSA Europe, Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. <br />

As part of the visual identity for project "Post-Carbon Cities in Europe: A Long-Term Outlook" (POCACITO), Ecologic Institute designed a promotional flyer in small postcard format. The flyer summarizes general objectives and aims of the project, is styled according to the project style-guide and also contains a list of partners, contact information and a QR-code directing to the project website. Flyers are distributed during project events.

Cigarette smoking is a leading risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality in the United States, yet information about smoking prevalence and trends is not routinely available below the state level, impeding local-level action. Tanja Srebotnjak of Ecologic Institute and co-authors now publish county-level estimates of cigarette smoking prevalence: These provide a unique opportunity to assess where prevalence remains high and where progress has been slow. The estimates provide the data needed to better develop and implement strategies at a local and at a state level to further reduce the burden imposed by cigarette smoking.